YANKS WIN 27th WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

New York defeats Phillies in 6 games to clinch their 27th World Series title, and the first in the brand new Yankee Stadium.

I produced a video both before the game, and another one after the game.

Pre-Game video.

Post-game video.

OBAMA SUPPORTS CORZINE

President Barack Obama came to Hackensack and joined Caroline kennedy in an effort to drum up support for Governor Jon Corzine in his bid for re-election. Corzine has been trailing the challenger Republican Chris Christie, and needs the boost. Obama remains a fan favorite among area Democrats, and put on quite a performance. If only Corzine had that kinda command...

9/11 INTERVIEW BY NEWS 12 -Long Island

A nice piece done by New 12 Long Island reporter Virgina Huie, on my September 11th photographs.

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GROUND ZERO REVISTED

Progress is replacing delay, slowly, at the former World Trade Center site known as Ground Zero. Take a look. I had not been down there in some time, and its very hard to accept that its been ten years. Yet, nothing has gone up. I believe that it essential for that site to be rebuilt in order for all of us New Yorkers to move on. Its taken too long.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

WOODLAND PARK? or WEST PATERSON?
Boro residents argue over what to call their town, weeks before Election Day when they get set to vote on the name.

MIRACLE METS

The Mets gave tribute to the World Championship team of 1969 with a moving ceremony at Citi Field. Seaver, Koosman, Grote, Cleon, Buddy, Kranepool, Swoboda, Ryan -all were on hand to take us back to that magical year, and to relive their improbable World Series win over the vaunted Baltimore Orioles. Good stuff.

Lets Go Mets.

ROTHMAN LISTENS-UP

Congressman Steve Rothman held a series of town hall meetings to listen to what his constituents had to say about the proposed changes to national health care. The first meeting, held in a swelter-hot senior center in North Arlington, was raucous. This video caught a lot of attention and went somewhat viral, after the Drudge Report linked to it, almost crashing the NorthJersey.com server. Nearly 160,000 hits.



This was another meeting, held in Englewood Cliffs two days later.

SOMBER FAREWELL

Jersey City bid farewell to fallen officer Marc DiNardo, the detective shot during a shootout with robbers on July 16th. Law enforcement from around the country turned out for the funeral procession. Full story.


HINDU STYLE WEDDING


In traditional Hindu style weddings, it is customary for the groom to ride a white horse dressed in his wedding attire, and be led by a dancing congregation to the place of the wedding ceremony. This is known as the Baraat.

On Thursday, 28 year old Ajay Desai rode that white horse around his Park Ridge neighborhood, to the delight of friends, family, and neighbors who danced and sang to the rhythm of the traditional Indian music blaring from speakers.

More than 100 wedding guests participated in the Hindu style wedding celebration.
At times they were hoisting family members and friends into the air (video-journalists too!), singing and dancing all around.



Photo by Michael Karas

BOYS OF SUMMER

Charlie McGill is a NorthJersey legend. Since the mid-1950's he has been the sports cartoonist for The Record, best known for his weekly sketches of the top male and female high school athletes, known as the "Athlete of the Week." He has draw such well-known North Jersey athletes such as Tim Thomas, Jim McGovern, Essence Carson, as well as the actor Ed Harris -who was a standout tail-back for Tenefly in the late '70's.

Charlie, whose been semi-retired since 1993, has embarked on a new project called the Boys of Summer, which features the top player for the Mets and Yankees respectively, from each decade since the 1960's. Readers of The Record made the selections, and a handsome pull-out section will be printed in the paper each week.

Recently, I produced this video on Charlie and his "Boys."

STADIUM FOOD

Both New York baseball teams opened-up brand new stadiums this year, and both clubs boast about how great the food is. With fancy fine-dining, world renown restaurants, and high-end eateries -the food options are vast. So reporter Jeff Roberts and I went on a tasting tour to see for ourselves just how good the food really is.

After experiencing both, I enjoyed the dining experience much better at Citi. The food was better prepared, higher quality, reasonably priced, and offered more open areas to sit or stand and eat.
Yankee Stadium was VERY expensive across the board, and just not very good. Nathan's dogs were small and over-priced, pull-pork was dry, yet the garlic fries and Italian ices were good.
Here are two video tours led by Jeff.

Citi Field eats


New Yankee Stadium Eats

ATF BLOWS-UP STUFF

The ATF detonated some cars, a mail box , and a mannequin, so they could work with police investigation teams and teach them new skills in how to look for clues and solve a crime after an explosion or suicide bombing. The exercise was held in a quarry in Millington. I got a flat on the way out, rear-left tire blew out after driving all over the rocky pit. Not fun.

MEMORIAL DAY

Clifton remembered their war dead with two Memorial Day services, including a parade through the North Jersey town where marchers carried the names of all 301 Clifton servicemen who died in battle since WWI.

LPGA'S SYBASE

The womens professional gold tour came to North Jersey this week for the LPGA's Sybase Classic and the venerable Upper Montclair CC. Here are two pre-tournament features on two of the top players, Michelle Wie and Paula Creamer.

RALLY FOR BATTERED WOMENS RIGHTS

Battered women and advocates for women's rights, led by Sandra Ramos of Strengthen Our Sisters, held a Mother's Day rally on the courthouse steps in Paterson
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BIDEN BACKS STIMULUS PLAN

VP Joe Biden visited Lodi for a ceremonial ground-breaking on New Jersey’s first construction project funded from the $787 billion stimulus program approved in February. Biden joined Gov. Jon Corzine, Senators Menendez and Lautenberg, and hundreds of union workers who lined up in the pouring rain behind police barricades near Route 46, to get a glimpse of Biden. Read more.

S-A-N-C-H-E-Z JETS JETS JETS

Jets have a new quarterback, Mark Sanchez from USC, and if his future as a QB is as bright as his personality, then the Jets just might be inching a little closer to that elusive 2nd Super Bowl ring. In his very first rookie mini-camp session (yes, I know its a little early...) he displayed great leadership, mechanics, footwork, arm-strength, and perhaps above all else -a winning attitude.

In fact, other than appearing a little shorter than the 6'3" as advertised, he looked pretty darn good. I guess we'll see...

DUNKIN' DONUTS NUTS

There were two more Dunkin' Donuts stickups in Paramus by the same two brazen bandits who have now robbed three D&D's in Paramus, and are suspected in over a dozen other similar robberies across North Jersey. Check it out. Story.

YANKS HOME OPENER

The Yankees and their fans opened their brand new stadium the same week the Mets christened Citi Field. And they too stunk it up in the historic home opener.


Yours truly, hours after the historic opener, and horrific loss. Photo taken by my friend Leslie Barbaro. Nice light.

METS HOME OPENER

The Mets & their fans held their 2009 home opener at their the brand ball park -Citi Field. The stadium was great. The team wasn't.

the new YANKEE STADIUM

The Yankees usher in the 2009 season in their brand new stadium, right across the street from the old one. Here's a sneak-peak at what Yankee fans can expect at the new billion-dollar ballpark in the Bronx. Beautiful narration done here by Paul Dottino. Also, check out this interactive presentation on both new New York stadiums done by my colleague at The Record, Bob Rebach.

CITI FIELD OF DREAMS

The Amazin's usher in the 2009 season in their brand new ballpark, Citi Field. Modelled after Ebbetts Field, Citi Field is a stark improvement to old Shea, and may prove to be a field of dreams for the Mets. Beautiful narration done here by Paul Dottino. Also, check out this interactive presentation on both new New York stadiums done by my colleague at The Record, Bob Rebach.

GREATER FALLS

This week, the House approved a bill that would make Paterson's Great Falls part of the National Park Service. Read this week's story by The Record's Herb Jackson.

This has been a long time coming. The Great Falls was denied such a designation in the 1970's just when it was poised and ready to join the NPS after a strong movement by city officials led by then mayor Pat Kramer -see video. Paterson was left at the alter by the Ford Administration, and left stranded without proper monies to make it a destination. Obviously, with the federal designation comes big federal dollars, making this a HUGE economic opportunity for Jersey's third largest city.

If you've never been, you should go. The Falls are sight to behold, smack in the middle of the city, in Paterson's rich historic district. It's a spectacle, one that changes with the seasons. In winter, much of the Passaic River freezes around the falls. In spring the water moves over the falls with such ferociousness, it kicks water spray into the air -so much so you often need a pancho.

Paterson is a city that never seems to catch a break. It's been a hard luck city. Perhaps now, finally, the Great Falls will bring proper recognition, and more importantly tourist dollars, to the Silk City. This is great news for the Great Falls.

Farewell to Chief Reda

Woodland Park (West Paterson) bids farewell to it's Police Chief Robert "Bobby Reda."

NO ORDINARY RECESSION

NJ Governor Jon Corzine called these tough economic times, "no ordinary recession," in his annual state budget address in Trenton, where he outlines some belt-tightening.


AVERY RETURNS

Troubled NHL player Sean Avery returns to the Rangers after clearing wavers. Avery was suspended and then released by his former team after making crude comments about his former girl friend actress Elisha Cuthbert of the television show "24" and the movie "Old School," and her hockey playing boyfriend Dion Phaneuf. Avery also dated Rachel Hunter, the former Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover model and actress who is now the girlfriend of Los Angeles Kings center Jarret Stoll. Avery claims to be a changed man. Time will tell. Here's a look at his first day back with the Blueshirts.


FIREFIGHTER'S SKI RACE

Firemen from 45 departments across New Jersey competed in the 22nd annual downhill ski race at Hidden Valley to benefit St. Barnabas Burn Foundation. Thrills, chills, and spills -all for a good cause.

A CONVERSATION WITH CHRISTIE WHITMAN

Former NJ Governor and EPA director Christie Whitman discusses her environmental record, EPA's response after 9/11, and her strained dealings with President Bush and Vice President Cheney. Her comments are quite surprising; describing Bush as being easily swayed by Cheney on issues related to the environment.

TORRE TALES

Ex-Yankees manager Joe Torre discusses his new book "The Yankee Years," and addresses the controversy surrounding the book he wrote with Tom Verducci. Video was shot prior to a book-signing at Barnes & Noble in mid-town Manhattan.

A Conversation with John Scher

Legendary rock concert promoter John Scher talks about The Who, Stones, Sinatra, and Springsteen from his front row seat to rock-n-roll history.

INAUGURATION DAY


North Jereyans joined 2 million others in Washington DC to witness history, as Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States. This a video I produced along with a team of photographers and reporters from The Record; Chris Pedota, Kevin R. Wexler, Giovanna Fabiano and Joseph Ax. See full coverage here.



Additional photos by Thomas E. Franklin / The Record

A CONVERSATION WITH LOU DUVA

In the latest installment of "A Conversation With..." we catch-up with the Godfather of boxing, Lou Duva, who candidly recalls his humble beginnings in the fight halls of Paterson, rising through the boxing ranks, and some of his fondest memories in a storied career in the "sweet-science."

VIEW TO A KILL

For this past Sunday's Giants vs. Eagles playoff game, I gained access to the roof of Giants Stadium, where I shot action photos during the first quarter. While it was quite cold and windy, and deathly high, it provided a spectacular view of the military fighters fly-over, the field below, as well as the surrounding North Jersey landscape.

Yes, that's me waving to the camera from high above, photo taken by my friend an colleague Chris Pedota.


GIANTS FALL TO EAGLES 23-11

The Giants fall to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Divisional playoffs, 23-11. The Giants were lackluster and were unable to find the endzone in game that brought the defending Super Bowl champs' season to a disappointing end. Here are some photos from the game.



Photos by Thomas E. Franklin / The Record

A CONVERSATION WITH BRENDAN BYRNE


"A Conversation With..." is a new video project series we've launched at The Record. It will feature candid interviews with prominent people of the world of politics, business, sports, entertainment, and literature. This video is the first installment.